Third Print - ruined the teflon tube
UPDATE: It looks like the filament somehow broke off in the tube?! How in the world does that happen?! You can see in the picture here the darker gray filament is in the center of the tubing. It's flush so I am having the toughest time trying to get a grip on it.
The whole thing makes me want to just throw it away and get a new extruder. I know that's stupid sounding, but I have no idea what I'm doing about breaking things apart and putting them back together. I just want to be able to work with the device and make prints. I'm not mechanically savvy enough, which is why I ordered it to be assembled.
The filament now won't go into the tube.
I bought the mk3 assembled so I wouldn't have to go in and open up the machine. However, about 90% done of the 3rd printing, the printer suddenly went to the corner and requested the filament to be unloaded even though there was plenty left. I did so, and then loaded the same piece back in after cutting an angle. Unfortunately after it went back to work, it would not extrude any material but kept acting like it was working correctly.
I used the needle but the nozzle was not clogged. Then when I tried to re-load the filament, the machine clicked at the pulley and sometimes would grab the filament and sometimes it wouldn't. Each time, it would push the filament out the side "window".
I finally discovered there's a little door to open access to the pulley. To my dismay I saw plastic up against the pulley. I could barely see inside the little window, and I mistook the teflon tube to be what I thought was a clog of the filament.
I tried pulling it out, and you can see from the below picture I 100% ruined it because the tube no longer has a nice open end. I will have to replace it since there's no way I can jam something down vertically to re-open the now-collapsed tube.
Completely an idiot....I have zero confidence in being able to disassemble an entire extruder and put it together again with my lack of knowledge and skills.
Re: Third Print - ruined the teflon tube
The assembly instructions are very detailed and online.
Re: Third Print - ruined the teflon tube
There are detailed guides to assembling a car but without the skill it isn't something you following along and finish it. Especially the wiring portion. I'm clueless at that area. I am looking at the instructions now, and it doesn't make heads or tails.
I am just going to see if I can send it back and pay for tech support
Re: Third Print - ruined the teflon tube
Ahh come on. Try to put a bit of filament in it an wiggle a litte and make the teflon open up a bit. Like it has a Y form afterwards. No biggie don't worry
Re: Third Print - ruined the teflon tube
I've been shoving as hard as I can with filament to hope to do that very thing. The tube should be soft plastic, but it seems the exposed portion at the top has hardened somehow.
Perhaps I'll try and trim that off with a knife.
Re: Third Print - ruined the teflon tube
Are you doing all this with the extruder heated up? You won’t get anywhere unless it is.
Re: Third Print - ruined the teflon tube
I tried preheating it the nozzle to 215 and then 220, but neither case allowed me to get anywhere. the filament is right at the top of the PTFE liner it looks like. I have tried pushing through, but it is jammed entirely.
My fear is that somehow perhaps it expanded? I don't know. But it feels like it's completely solid in the tube and doesn't want to budge.
Re: Third Print - ruined the teflon tube
I tried preheating it the nozzle to 215 and then 220, but neither case allowed me to get anywhere. the filament is right at the top of the PTFE liner it looks like. I have tried pushing through, but it is jammed entirely.
Give it some desperation man!
As long as the Noctura fan (the one on the side) is working, crank that baby up to 235 or 240. 🙂
I'm sure it won't hurt anything that's not already broken... but sometimes... it can unbreak the broken...
😉
I can't recall the temp range of the Prusa Silver pLA off the top of my head, but it is either 230, or 240.
240 won't hurt anything... other than give you lower print quality.... which is not your concern at the moment.
Hi, I'm Sean. I used to work on CNC machines.
I try to not make mistakes, but the decision is YOURS.
Please feel free to donate to my filament/maintance fund.
Re: Third Print - ruined the teflon tube
I cranked it up to 240 and I had to use an allen wrench that was given with the printer. I shoved that into the tube very hard and suddenly it gave through. I didn't think I was going to get that unstuck.
Biggest glob of plastic came out in one large teardrop. Took several first layer tests to get it to print smoothly again. Seems to be better now.
Thanks!
Re: Third Print - ruined the teflon tube
A replacement PTFE tube is less than $2 from Prusa. So you might as well order a backup the next time you place an order from Prusa.